Anti-US views not shared: McClelland

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Mark Latham would not have been elected Labor leader if the
party had known of his anti-American views, opposition defence
spokesman Robert McClelland said today.

The latest extract from the former Labor leader's soon to be
published diaries reveals Mr Latham believed the US alliance was
"the last manifestation of the White Australia mentality" and
should be dropped.

He said the alliance was a funnel that had drawn Australia into
unnecessary wars, including in Vietnam and Iraq.

Mr McClelland said today the Labor Party was at odds with its
former leader's views.

"The Australian Labor Party has a 65-year commitment to the
United States alliance ... and that remains the case despite Mark
Latham's 11th hour statement indicating his position," he said.

"I can assure you there are no greater supporters of the United
States alliance than Kim Beazley, myself and Kevin Rudd ... and
indeed the entire Labor caucus.

"There is no doubt that Mark Latham would not have been elected
as leader of the Australian Labor party had he indicated these
views."

Mr McClelland said he personally had asked Mr Latham what his
position was on the United States alliance during the leadership
contest.

"He indicated to me then that he had a strong commitment to it,"
he said.

"(If he hadn't) I certainly would not have voted for him, and I
know a number of others would not have voted for him."

In fact, Mr Latham even held his first press conference as Labor
leader in front of an American flag, Mr McClelland said.

"His first press conference as leader he placed himself in front
of the American flag rather than the Australian flag to convince
the voters of Australia that he was committed to the alliance," he
said.

"He was misleading not only his colleagues but also the
Australian public."

Mr McClelland said the Labor Party delivered on the Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) with the US, despite Mr Latham's views.

"We actually delivered to the government the Free Trade
Agreement, they had not had the numbers in the Senate," he
said.

"Mark Latham's views were superseded by the overwhelming view of
the caucus, so that's an indication he was out of touch.

"It was an indication of inconsistency, at the very least on his
part, but worse than that I think blank hypocrisy."

Asked if Labor MPs were considering taking legal action against
Mr Latham over some of the allegations in his new book, a spokesman
for Mr McClelland said a number of frontbenchers had sought legal
advice.

"Nothing has been initiated at this stage but they are reserving
the right to initiate defamation proceedings," the spokesman
said.